Page 38 of His Pet

Despite the sincerity of her friendliness and excitement, Bella couldn't help but eye the woman with suspicion. She was more confused now than she had ever been at the compound. Could they trust the stewardess?

The woman got them buckled in efficiently enough, babbling the entire time about how excited they must be to go home. Truthfully, Bella wasn't sure if she was excited. In fact, she felt a little sick to her stomach. What was going to happen when they got there? How could they prove that the top officials in the Moon's government had corrupt dealings with the Wolf?

Why did they still have their memories?

Being a captive inside the Wolf's compound had been far simpler than this.

Bella looked around the shuttle as the stewardess finished buckling them in, telling them that they'd be lifting off in just a few minutes, as another question rose in her brain.

Where was Trish?

* * *

"You have a choice." Jordan stood over her, his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes glinting as he looked down at her.

Shifting nervously, Trish folded her hands on her lap, trying not to squirm under that stern gaze. Something about the way he was looking at her made her feel even more nervous than usual. "I'm... retiring, for the lack of a better word. I have all the money I need and a place on an island near the equator. The Wolf is going to promote Zadia in my place and will only call on me if he has need."

Trish stared up at him silently, tensing as she wondered what this meant for her. For the first time, she saw Jordan hesitate, his hand coming up to rub along his jaw in an almost nervous gesture.

"You can come with me."

"Or... stay here?" she asked, her voice a whisper. That didn't appeal at all. She'd much rather go with him.

"Or go home."

"Home?" she echoed, as if she didn't know the meaning of the word. Truthfully, she just didn't quite understand what he was saying. It didn't compute.

"To the Moon." Jordan glanced at the timepiece on his wrist. "Alex and Bella will leave for the shuttle in ten minutes. You can go with them or stay here with me."

Her heart was beating so hard and fast that she was sure she could hear it in her ears. Go home? Escape this... sexual servitude? This man who had taken her against her will and used her as his personal sex toy?

Home to... what? People who looked down on her, a society that was rotten from the inside out, where wealth was valued over common sense and work ethic... home where no one had even cared that she was missing...

"What would I do, if I stayed?" she heard herself asking, her voice sounding far away, and like a stranger's.

Jordan stepped closer, his hand reaching out to cup her chin, fingers stroking her cheek softly. "The same thing we've been doing. Be mine. Decorate my home. Sleep in my bed. Let me take care of you."

It was that last one that sent a shiver down her spine. The gentle way he said it, the way his voice and eyes softened.

"Why me?" she asked, her voice husky. She sucked her lower lip in, wetting it, even though her mouth felt dry. It was the question she'd asked herself from the beginning.

There was a long silence, tension stretching between them, and she thought he might not answer. Then he sighed, his face carefully blank of all emotion. "Because I don't want to let you go."

From a man like Jordan, it was probably the most emotionally revealing statement she was going to get. It might as well be an avowal of love. Maybe it was just possession, but he was always gentle with her, always caring, always cherishing. A man didn't ask his possession if it wanted to stay with him. He didn't give his possession a choice.

Trish wavered for only a moment. Perhaps she had gone insane. Perhaps this was Stockholm Syndrome and she should be going home to throw herself at the mercy of a shrink. Instead, she nodded her head.

"I'll go with you."

Emotion flashed in Jordan's eyes, hot and triumphant, and he suddenly crouched down so that they were on eye level, his fingers firming on her jaw. Holding her immobile. Something warm and tingly pulsed through her core in response.

"Say it again, babygirl," he murmured. Demanded, really. His gaze bore into hers with a neediness that shocked her.

"I'll go with?—"

Just as she started to say 'you,' he was on her, his mouth covering hers, lifting her up and moving her further back on the bed, covering her body with his. Hard muscle pinned her to the bed and she whimpered as hot need swirled. It might be sick, but she didn't care anymore. Here, she was wanted. Needed. Pleasured. Cared for. Cherished.

Her hands were pushed above her head as Jordan groaned with need, his tongue thrusting into her mouth even as his hips ground against her pussy. Holding her wrists in one hand, he used his other to yank her thighs up and open, and then undo the front of his pants. He was like a starving man, hungry for her, needing to lay and confirm his claim now that she'd made her decision.

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